Method and system for controlling a mobile communication device in a moving vehicle

• US 9,451,447 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2014
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Katasi LLC
• Original Assignee: Katasi LLC
• Inventors: Tibbitts, Scott Ferrill, Nabkel, Jafar
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Michael T
• Application Number:
  US14/336,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20140364108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 455418-419, 455/405, 4554561-4565
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/415 based on motion status or velocity, e.g. for disabling use of mobile phones in a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A method and system is disclosed for performing a wireless location of a mobile communication device for detecting, monitoring and/or controlling one or more interactive mobile services capable of being activated by a user of the mobile device. When the mobile device is operated by the user, a wireless location is performed for determining whether such an interactive service, requested by the user, can be provided to the user. In one embodiment, a determination is made as to whether the mobile device resides in a container, e.g., a vehicle, for determining whether the interactive mobile service can be accessed by the user.

Claims

1. A mobile services control system for controlling use of one or more services provided by a mobile communication device, comprising:

an in-vehicle detection subsystem for detecting the mobile communication device within a vehicle, the in-vehicle detection subsystem including;

(a) one or more detectors for wirelessly detecting a location of the mobile communication device;

(b) a vehicle operation detector that determines one or more characteristics indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user, wherein the mobile communication device moves independently from the in-vehicle detection subsystem;

computational equipment that uses one or more inputs comprising information indicative of the location of the mobile communication device, and a location of the vehicle the computational equipment is configured to determine whether the controllable mobile device is within the vehicle by comparing the location of the controllable mobile device and the location of the vehicle, when the location of the controllable mobile device and location of the vehicle are within a predetermined range of each other, the controllable mobile device is determined to be in the location and when both the mobile communication device is determined to be in the vehicle and a predetermined vehicle movement is detected, the computational equipment is configured to communicate with a wireless service provider for the mobile communication device for notifying the provider to restrict access to the one or more services provided by the mobile communication device.

2. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle detection subsystem includes a wireless communication interface for communicating with a wireless network external to the vehicle for transmitting data including:

an identification of the mobile communication device, an identification of the in-vehicle detection subsystem, and at least one of the characteristics, wherein the data is accessed at least one component of the computational equipment for notifying the provider to restrict access to the services provided by the mobile communication device.

3. The mobile services control system of claim 2, wherein the communication interface only intermittently transmits additional data indicating whether the vehicle is moving according to the predetermined movement.

4. The mobile services control system of claim 2, wherein the computational equipment includes a data management system for storing identifications of:

(i) a subscriber for subscribing to the mobile services control system, (ii) the mobile communication device wherein the mobile communication device is identified with the subscriber, and (iii) the vehicle or the in-vehicle detection subsystem.

5. The mobile services control system of claim 4, wherein the data management system is operated independently of the wireless service provider and the wireless network.

6. The mobile services control system of claim 4, wherein the data management system provides the first and second input to at least one component of the computational equipment for determining one of:

when the mobile communication device is within a predetermined geospatial envelop, and when the predetermined vehicle movement is detected.

7. The mobile service control system of claim 4, wherein the subscriber is notified when the user overrides a restriction on the access to one of the services.

8. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the wireless network and the wireless service provider are independently operated.

9. The mobile service control system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle operation detector receives vehicle movement data from one or more vehicle movement detectors, the movement detectors detecting one or more of a vehicle acceleration, velocity, and a vehicle vibration indicative of vehicle movement.

10. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the one or services include one or more of:

texting, playing a game, viewing a video, and viewing information provided via the Internet.

11. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the computational equipment is located external to the vehicle.

12. The mobile services control system of claim 1, wherein the computational equipment uses a communication between the mobile communication device and one or more base stations for the wireless service provider to determine a particular location of the mobile communication device, and a communication between the interface and the wireless network for determining a particular location of the vehicle, wherein when the particular location of the mobile communication device and the particular location of the vehicle are spaced apart, the wireless service provider is not notified to restrict access to the services provided by the mobile communication device.

13. The mobile service control system of claim 12, wherein one or more of:

a signal strength, a signal time delay, and an identification of one of the base stations is used in determining the particular location of the mobile communication device are used in determining the particular location of the vehicle.

14. The mobile service control system of claim 12, wherein one or more of:

a signal strength, a signal time delay, and an identification of one of the base stations of a wireless network is used in determining the particular location of the vehicle or the in-vehicle detection subsystem.

15. A mobile services control system for controlling use of one or more services provided by a wireless mobile communication device, comprising:

an in-vehicle detection subsystem for detecting the characteristics of the vehicle, the in-vehicle detection subsystem including a vehicle operation detector that determines one or more characteristics indicative of the vehicle being operated by a user and a velocity of the vehicle, wherein the mobile communication device moves independently from the in-vehicle detection subsystem;

a wireless interface for wirelessly connecting the in-vehicle detection subsystem to a wireless network independent of the vehicle;

one or more computational equipment interfaces for entering information as to the identity of a primary driver or drivers of the vehicle, and for entering information as to the wireless mobile communication device(s) that might be in use by the primary driver or drivers of the vehicle, and for entering information as to what information transfer should be allowed to and from the mobile communication device although the device has services restricted thereto; and

computational equipment that uses one or more inputs indicative of a velocity of the mobile communication device and the velocity of the vehicle, the computational equipment is configured to compare the velocity of the vehicle and the velocity of the mobile communication device, when the velocity of the vehicle and the velocity of the mobile communication device are within a predetermined range of each other, the computational equipment changes the information in a database that is accessible by a wireless service provider for the mobile communication device indicating to the provider that access to the services provided by the mobile communication device should be restricted.

16. The mobile services control system of claim 15, wherein the in-vehicle detection subsystem includes a wireless communication interface for communicating with a wireless network external to the vehicle for transmitting data including:

an identification of the mobile communication device, an identification of the in-vehicle detection subsystem, and at least one of the characteristics, wherein the data is accessed at least one component of the computational equipment for notifying the provider to restrict access to the services provided by the mobile communication device.

17. The mobile services control system of claim 15, wherein the wireless network and the wireless service provider are independently operated.

18. The mobile service control system of claim 15, wherein the vehicle operation detector receives vehicle movement data from one or more vehicle movement detectors, the movement detectors detecting one or more of a vehicle acceleration, velocity, and a vehicle vibration indicative of vehicle movement.